Extrajudicial killings in the Philippines of suspected drug offenders

02/08/16

Health Poverty Action joins over 300 NGOs calling on the UN to take action

Since 10th May 2016, more than 700 people suspected of using or dealing drugs have been killed by police and vigilantes in the Philippines. This is a direct result of new President Duterte calling for these killings as part of his campaign to eradicate crime within six months.

The United Nations agencies responsible for drug control have so far failed to condemn the new president of the Philippines for these atrocities, which continue to be carried out in the name of drug control.

Health Poverty Action strongly condemns these killings and, along with 328 other non-governmental organisations, have signed an open letter by the IDPC which is today being sent to the UNODC Executive Director, Mr. Yury Fedotov, and the INCB President, Mr. Werner Sipp, asking them to demand an end to these human rights violations currently taking place in the Philippines, and to affirm that the extrajudicial killings taking place do not constitute acceptable drug control measures.